CAMP HILL, Pa. - Keeping teenagers safe on the road, National Teen Driver Safety Week kicked off today at Camp Hill High School in Cumberland County. PennDOT representatives joined safety advocates to talk to teenage drivers about the responsibilities that come with driving. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. From 2009 to 2014, there were 113,029 crashes in Pennsylvania involving a driver between the ages of 16 and 19, resulting in 859 fatalities. Of those crashes, almost 42 percent were caused because the teenage driver was driving too fast, was inexperienced, was driving carelessly or the driver was distracted.
PennDOT officials emphasize that adult supervision is key to keeping teen driver safe on the road. Parents need to set a good example for their teenagers by teaching them safe driving techniques and also encouraging young drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on a cell phone.
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards emphasized reminding teenagers of the responsibilities they have behind the wheel. "When you get behind the wheel of a car, you're not only responsible for your own life but everybody else on the road and who may be in your car as well. It's not a time to be joking around. One bad decision, one distraction can really change your life forever," said Richards.
For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDOT's highway safety website www.JustDrivePA.org.